Open letter from 685 Indians including 19 retired judges to the people of Bangladesh… Demand for restoration of democracy and secularism

Since the coup of Sheikh Hasina's government in Bangladesh, all minority communities including Hindus have been targeted. The attacks on minorities are also affecting the relations between India and Bangladesh. Therefore, hundreds of eminent people of India have written an open letter to the people of Bangladesh.

685 signatories including 19 retired judges, 139 retired bureaucrats, 300 vice-chancellors, 192 retired army officers, and 35 people from civil society have appealed to the people of Bangladesh to work towards restoring democracy and secularism in the country through a letter. This letter was handed over to the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi on Monday morning.

Concern expressed over the situation in Arakaj, Bangladesh

This letter written by the Indian community said, 'We hope that this will help the people of both India and Bangladesh to move forward in the direction of peace, friendship and mutual agreement.' The people of India are watching the deteriorating situation in Bangladesh with increasing concern. The 1.5 crore minority communities living there, especially Hindus, Buddhists, Christians, Shias, Ahmadiyas, and others, are bearing the brunt of the chaotic conditions in Bangladesh.

Islamic power is creating an atmosphere of fear.

The agenda of Islamic forces in Bangladesh is to create an atmosphere of fear so that the religious minority population can be forced to leave Bangladesh. Hindus and other minority communities living in Bangladesh are strongly opposing these efforts of Islamic groups. They are demanding protection as citizens of Bangladesh as promised to them in the Constitution of the country.

Mention of Chinmay Krishna's arrest

Referring to the arrest of Chinmay Krishna Das, the prominent face of ISKCON, the letter states, "Chinmay Krishna Das was arrested on charges of sedition and was denied bail without a hearing. Also, his lawyer is being threatened in an organized manner. He was not even given the opportunity for a free and fair trial."

Warned about the situation in Bangladesh

The attacks on minorities in Bangladesh have caused deep concern in India. Both the countries share a long border and hence the unstable situation in Bangladesh can spread across the border, which will disrupt communal harmony and can lead to a serious law and order crisis in India.

It has been said in the letter that Indian soldiers contributed shoulder to shoulder in the independence of Bangladesh, India fully supported Bangladesh in the 1971 war, not only this, during that time India gave shelter to about one crore Bangladeshi refugees without any external help.

Demand for restoration of democracy and secularism

The four pillars of the constitution adopted in 1972 after the independence of Bangladesh are democracy, nationalism, secularism and social justice. Therefore, we, the people of India, appeal to the people and institutions of Bangladesh to take steps towards the restoration of democracy and secularism in their country, including the protection of the rights of Hindus and other religious minorities.

In this letter written on behalf of the people of the Indian community, it is said that the crisis that Bangladesh is currently facing can be resolved only through free, fair and inclusive elections. We demand immediate stop to attacks on minorities, their property, business and efforts to force them to leave the country. Such conditions in Bangladesh are intolerable and unacceptable to the Indian people.